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Chapter 44
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๋ฐ์ดํธ:
2024-10-09 17:15:43
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Protecting The Heiress ย ย ย Chapter 45
NIKOLAIItโs been three days Lia has locked herself away in her room, and it's starting to weigh on me. Sheโs taken the rest of week off work, which makes sense after everything that went down, but the constant crying and isolating herself? Itโs tough to watchWe barely talk anymore, even our awkward hellos in passing is barely there. I donโt know how to help her, and itโs driving me insane. Comforting people isnโt exactly my forte, and itโs frustrating as hell standing on the sidelines, useless. Taking actions have always been my strength, but I doubt thatโs what Lia needs at the moment. I saw her yesterday, and she looked completely drained. Her eyes were puffy and red, and her once radiant face was dull and lifeless. The fire that usually burned in her blue eyes was snuffed out. I figured leaving her alone would give her time to process what happened, most people would crash out the way she did. But it's been four days, and she's only slipped further into despair. I went through
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๋ฐ์ดํธ : 2024-10-10Protecting The Heiress ย ย ย Chapter 46
NIKOLAIHer forehead creases as she process my words before her brows furrow in disbelief. โYouโre serious?โ"Yes," I answer without a moment of hesitation. Fuck, what am I even doing? "Yeah, sure." Her surprise transforms into a soft smile and it squeezes my chest. I miss that too. "Tomorrow, then,โ I say. Lia nods before disappearing into her room. My shoulder sags as a wave of relief washes over me. Damn, I didnโt even realize how nervous I was asking Lia that.I spend the rest of the night searching for the perfect park until I begrudgingly settle for one. I don't understand why I'm doing any of this, why Iโm so invested in cheering Lia up. All I know is I want to, Iโm desperate to. The next morning unfolds like any other day. I breeze through my routine like I usually do while looking over my shoulder, expecting to find Lia right behind me, but she doesnโt show up. Now, it's time for our outing, and I'm pacing the end of hallway waiting for Lia. I won't call it panic, but i
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๋ฐ์ดํธ : 2024-10-10Protecting The Heiress ย ย ย Chapter 47
NIKOLAII’ve never felt real fear in my life until I saw Lia fall into the water right before my eyes. It all happens in slow motion, seconds stretching painfully long. One minute, she’s standing near the edge, glancing around, and the next, she’s falling into the water.My body moves on instinct, and I’m sprinting across the park before I know it, legs pounding against the ground, heart slamming so hard it feels my chest might break.The distance between us feels endless, and with every second that passes, dread claws at me.Finally, I reach the edge of the water. My lungs burn as I spot her limp form sinking beneath the surface. Without hesitation, I dive in. The cold water hits me like a slap, but I push through to where she is and grab a hold of her. She’s limp, heavy, almost lifeless and the thought haunts me.I haul her to the surface and drag her back to the shore, my hands already shaking with panicA cr
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๋ฐ์ดํธ : 2024-10-14Protecting The Heiress ย ย ย Chapter 48
LIAAs we step out of the store, Dr. Daniels sighs and rubs the back of his neck. โIโm sorry about my son, again. He can be quite a handful.โ"Aren't they all?" I chuckle, tucking a loose strand of hair behind my ear that the wind sweeps across my face.โYeah, they are,โ he says, casting a fond glance at his son, who is busy tugging at his sweatshirt sleeves, completely absorbed in his own world. Dr. Daniels rests a hand over the boyโs shoulder. โI look away for one second, and heโs already causing trouble.โI smile at the boy, but my heart clenches. Kids are so innocent. Iโve always wanted a house full of them, but now the dream feels further away than ever. My smile fades away as my gaze drifts to the evening sky, where hues of purple and orange paint the horizon. The park is emptying out, and the once lively chatter has faded into a quiet lull.โHowโve you been coping?โ Dr. Daniels cuts through the silence, his tone cautious, like he isnโt sure how to breach the subject. The trut
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๋ฐ์ดํธ : 2024-10-18Protecting The Heiress ย ย ย chapter 49
LIAThe next morning, I find myself standing before the Rodriquez Villa, a place that once felt like home. My late father employed only one housekeeper, Kira. If he had been poisoned over the years, she must know about it more than anyone. Iโm certain she wonโt divulge the truth outright, but trying to find out wonโt hurt. As Nikolai pulls the car to a stop, I swing open the door and glance back at him. โIโll be back soon,โ I say, stepping out. He climbs down from the car too, following me without a word. โYou donโt have to follow me in,โ I say over my shoulder. โIโm not letting you face your stepbrother alone.โ As he falls in step behind me, he replies with a grumble that earns a faint smile from me.The memory of last night floods my mind and I reminisce about how Nikolai comforted me without even knowing what was wrong with me. It makes my smile widen into a grin and warmth curls within me in contrast to the chaos happening around me. Do I even have the right to feel this way w
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๋ฐ์ดํธ : 2024-10-20Protecting The Heiress ย ย ย chapter 50
LIA The ride to the ROQ is quiet. Nikolai drives with his usual calm stoic, but I feel his eyes on me, glancing every now and then, like heโs searching for what to say. My mind is a tangled mess and too chaotic to start a conversation so I donโt say anything either. I canโt stop thinking about Kira and why she quitted. Kira was my father only for so long, there is no way she wouldnโt be aware of what was happening? Also who could Gareth be talking to on the phone? What file could his life depend on? I wish any of these make sense. I wish I could tell Nikolai about thisโabout Gareth, about my father, about everything โbut I canโt. I wonโt drag him deeper into this storm. Heโs already done more for me than I deserve. I know for a fact that heโs already tired of me as it is judging by how insufferable Iโve been this past few days. Iโm so sure heโs already reaching his breaking point. His voice pulls me out of my thoughts. โAre you still mad at me?โI jump slightly at the sound, ca
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๋ฐ์ดํธ : 2024-10-20Protecting The Heiress ย ย ย Chapter 51
LIATwo days later, I finally find a way forward with the project. After pulling extra hours to refine my ideas, making it much better than before, I’m fairly confident about it. All that’s left is to re-pitch it to the chairperson, Isabella Fontaine. The plan’s in motion, but first, I have a little side task to handle.Currently, Nikolai just pulls up to the sidewalk outside of the department store and throws me a puzzled glance.“Shopping?” he asks, a brow raised.I only smile, not giving him an answer as I slip out of the car. If only he knew we were here to find him a suit.“You haven’t answered my question yet,” he steps out to follow me, his long strides marching mine effortlessly.“You will see.” I reply with a grin, refusing to give him the satisfaction of an answer.He tilts his head in my direction with a suspicious look on his face. “I have a bad feeling abou
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๋ฐ์ดํธ : 2024-10-22Protecting The Heiress ย ย ย Chapter 52
LIAI’d almost forgotten about it due to the excitement of picking out suits for Nikolai. Now that’s it’s over, the nerves had returned, crashing over me like icy wave.Nikolai knows what this is all about too. He also worked side by side with me and Kate to make everything go as planned.Sensing my shift in mood, he doesn’t say another word, though I really wish he will tell me I’ll do a good job or something. They say a level of confidence comes with putting efforts into a work, but that can’t be said about me. I may be work hard and still fail. I may put in the efforts and still not get what I direly wanted—needed.A hand suddenly yanks me back, snapping me back to reality. I gasp when I realize I nearly walk into a pole. Nikolai’s hand on my forehead is the reason I don’t have a swollen head.“You good?” Nikolai steps in front of me as he scans me for any injury.&ld
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๋ฐ์ดํธ : 2024-10-22
์ต์ ์ฑํฐ
Protecting The Heiress ย ย ย Chapter 65
NIKOLAIThe phone trembles in my hand, and I clench it so hard my knuckles ache as I fight the urge to hurl it across the room. My pulse drums loud and fast in my ears, each beat stoking the frustration, the doubt, and the guilt.Yes, Iโm going to tell Lia Iโm quitting. But not tonight. Not after everything that has happened. And not because I care about her more than Hannah.Screw Xander for even saying that. Screw him for daring to throw that accusation in my face. As if everything Iโve done, and every decision Iโve made havenโt been for my sister. Every damn sacrifice, how I live my life has been for my sisterโs sake. Every time I think of doing something, the first thing that crosses my mind is how itโll impact her.Everything has been heavily influenced by my sisterโ.Right. That isnโt entirely true. I have made a decision solely for me before. Just once I made a decision, and I didnโt think about my sister, but my selfish self. Accepting the job from Lia was the only time I wasn
Protecting The Heiress ย ย ย Chapter 64
NIKOLAISigning the contract with Lia was a selfish decision. I knew from the start that the pay wouldnโt cover my sisterโs hospital bills, but I still went for the job. Now Iโm paying the price for that decision.For the past one week, Iโve taken on some of the most dangerous jobs Iโve ever accepted. The kind of jobs that put me inches away from death. Jobs that used to give me a thrill and make me feel alive in some twisted way. But now, I canโt say the same anymore. Because the thrill no longer fuels me, rather it unsettles me. Every time Iโm on the edge of life and death, I find myself hesitating. The adrenaline I used to love now feels more like a sick twist in my gut and it makes me want to turn and run, to protect myself.My sister makes me feel fearless. For her Iโm ready to face anything, come hell, or high water. But itโs different when it comes to Lia. She makes me want to back down and avoid risks. Because every time I think about facing something that could end me, thereโs
Protecting The Heiress ย ย ย Chapter 63
LIAPanic kicks in, pressing me forward until I burst into the kitchen. Relief washes over me as I see him, right there.Nikolaiโs changed out of his soaked clothes, though his hair still glistens with drops of water, the dark strands occasionally sending a bead sliding down his neck. He's wearing those low-rise pants that hug his hips, and a fitted tee stretched over his frame, showing just enoughโฆ no. I shake my head and dart my eyes away. This isnโt the time to be ogling him; Iโm here to confront him.When I shift my gaze back towards him, heโs looking at me over his shoulder, and the tiniest smile pulls at his lips before he looks away, or notโฆ Iโm just imagining things. Nikolai isnโt smiling at me.โFeel better?โ His voice pulls me back to the moment as he turns fully, his eyes skimming over me with that subtle, unreadable appraisal.โYes,โ I answer and sneezes immediately, disproving my answer.โClearly not.โ He stops right in front of me, holding out a steaming cup. The space
Protecting The Heiress ย ย ย Chapter 62
LIAThe words Iโve kept buried seem to boil up inside of me. Words of hurt, longing, heartache that has twisted itself deep, when even I can barely reach it. I want to scream at him. I want to demand answers, force him to tell me why he disappeared, why he left me here to be mad with worry, clawing through days that stretched endlessly without him.But as he stands there, with softened face and eyes weighed with something unsaid, looking at me like he hasnโt shattered my world, like he hasnโt been gone for a week without a trace, like I wasnโt shell of myself because of his absence, like I havenโt been teetering on the edge, the words slip away. Every line I rehearsed in the mirror all vanish. My voice fades under the weight of his gaze and his silence.Tears spill over before I can stop them, mingling with the rain that lashes down, soaking me to the bone. The chill seeps into my skin, but the burn of his stare holds me still, locked in place.The world feels muffled, just the sound
Protecting The Heiress ย ย ย Chapter 61
LIAGetting ready for work doesnโt take long, and in no time, Iโm pulling into the parking lot of ROQ.Kate is already at the entrance with her attention laser-focused on the tablet in her hand until she spots me. She and I have met in the middle ground and have agreed that she wonโt jump in step beside and scare the living daylights out of me, she stays in my line of sight.As I approach, her eyes shift past me, darting through the lot. She doesnโt have to tell me who sheโs looking for. I feel the same, though I doubt it runs deep for herFinally, her gaze snaps back to me, and with a quiet nod, she says, โGood morning, maโam.โI nod in acknowledgment, too weighed down to respond.โHave you been able to reach him?โ she asks. I shake my head, trying to hide how much Iโm affected by Nikolaiโs absence. But Kateโs eyes narrow, noticing more than I wish she would.โI wonder where Grumpy is.โI halt abruptly in my steps, making Kate tilt her head slightly toward me. โIs something wrong?โ
Protecting The Heiress ย ย ย Chapter 60
LIAI havenโt heard from Nikolai in a week, and it feels like my worldโs been stuck on pause. Scratch thatโlife hasnโt just paused. Itโs slowed to a dull, gray crawl.The day he disappeared, I sensed something was wrong. I tried to get through to him every way I knew how. I called him more times than I can count, sent message after message. Eventually, his line stopped going through, so I left voicemails, each one more desperate than the last. But I got nothing. Not a single reply.Even though my project has been moving faster, and my week has been busier than ever, Nikolai is still there, at the back of my mind. Heโs everywhere I look, his presence in every corner of my apartment.I water his flowers religiously, telling myself heโll be back. After all, our contract still has four months left. Nikolai is responsibleโheโd never just leave without finishing what he started. Yet, with each day that passes, Iโve been forced to make up new excuses for why he hasnโt called, why he hasnโt c
Protecting The Heiress ย ย ย Chapter 59
NIKOLAIโI donโt repeat myself,โ I groan out.She lowers the can and wipe her mouth with the back of her hand, her expression unbothered. โIโm waiting until Hannah wakes up. I want to see her.โโYou wonโt be seeing her when she wakes up. Leave.โ My voice is flat, final. But Blake, as always, presses on.โAnd whyโs that?โ She tosses the empty can into a nearby bin with a loud clatter and crosses her arms.โBecause I said so.โShe coughs out a rough scoff. โItโs been ages since I saw her. I miss her. So, Iโm seeing her whether you like it or not.โ โAnd then leave again?โ My voice comes out as a bitter hiss, laced with disdain. I shake my head slowly. โIโm not putting Hannah that emotional stress again.โ The thought of watching her disappointment is unbearable; having to explain, once more, why one of her favorite people is walking away with no real reason. Thereโs a reason itโs only me and Xander in her life now.Blakeโs jaw clenches. โDonโt act like I left by choice. I had no other op
Protecting The Heiress ย ย ย Chapter 58
NIKOLAII donโt how I managed to ride my bike from the apartment to the hospital, but I did. In a blur of speeding through intersections, narrowly missing cars, and racing against dread. But somehow, Iโm here, breathless and disheveled as I burst through the sliding doors of the hospital. The sterile smell of antiseptics stings my nostrils, but I barely register it, the frantic drumming in my chest drowning everything.A flash of someone in scrubs brushing past me jolts me back into the moment, and I nearly collide with him. "Watch it!โ I snap, already halfway down the corridor, not waiting to hear his indignant mutter behind me.The air grows thick as I approach Hannahโs room, every step heavier than the last. My heart is pounding, and as I reach for the door handle, the simple act of pushing it open feels like an eternity.Nausea rolls over me when Iโm greeted with eerie emptiness and no sign of Hannah. No. No. This canโt be happening. This canโt fucking be real. Hannah canโt beโn
Protecting The Heiress ย ย ย Chapter 57
NIKOLAIโWhatโs it?โ I say with a raised brow.โDidโฆ I do something wrong?โ Her voice is quiet, her fingers fidgeting at her side.โNo.โShe swallows hard and her throat bobs.โThen why?โโWhy what?โโWhy have you been acting strange?โ each word drops slowly, almost as if sheโs afraid of what my answer might be. โLike I did something to piss you off.โI almost scoff. Lia couldnโt piss me off even if she tried, but Iโm not about to say that to her face.โYou didnโt piss me off,โ I say simply, folding my arms.Her gaze drops for a moment before she meets my eyes again, her expression tinged with worry. โI... I know I did some embarrassing things yesterday. One thing in particular thatโs probably pissed you off.โMy brow furrows. I canโt think of anything Lia could have done to irritate me when she was drunk, but now that she mentioned it, Iโm curious. โWhich is?"She draws in a shaky breath and squeezes her eyes shut briefly as the words tumble out. โIโm sorry for... for asking you to h
